Rail-joint.



PATENTBD AUG. 22

G. SHBGKLBR. RAIL JOINT.

unmunon rmzn 1123.8. 1905.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE SHEGKLER, OF CHESTER, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOSIMEON SHEOKLER, OF CHESTER, WEST VIRGINIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed April 8, 1905. Serial No. 254,525.

practice will obviate the employment of connecting-bolts extendedtransversely through the rail and the consequent weakening of thelatter, one wherein relative vertical movement of the rail sections, andconsequent pounding of the ends of the latter, is overcome, and onewherein the pairs of fish-plates employed at the joints will be securelyinter-.

locked one with the other.

Withthis and other objects in view the invention comprises the novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafterdescribed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end view, partly insection, of a device embodying the invention and showing the rail inposition. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a pair of fish-plates shown inoperative interlocked engagement. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one ofthe chairs, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a rail-section, which may be ofthe usual or any approved construction and material and comprises a heador tread 2, a web 3, and a base 4, all of which are shown herein asbeing of the ordinary form.

In practice the rail-sections are arranged in end wise relation, asusual, and for connecting their meeting ends I employ a pair of membersor fish-plates 5, which are identical-in form and are each provided inaccordance with my invention with a base portion or plate 6, formedintegrally with the side portion or fish-plate proper, 5, there beingprovided upon the inner. edge and at one end of the baseplate 6 atransversely extending coupling member or portion 7, having formed inits upper face a depression or seat 8 of substantially wedge shape, asshown, and of gradually-decreasing width from its inner toward its outerend,-the outer inclined wall of the depression 8 being of undercutdovetailed form, as seen at 9, while upon the other end of the plate 6there is provided a longitudinally-extending coupling member or tongue10 of a form to fitwithin the depression 8 and. having its outerinclined edge beveled at 11 for interlocking engagement with theundercut wall 9 of the recess. The outer edge of the sections 5 areprovided with spike-receiving recesses 12, while the fish-plate 5 at itspoint of junction with the plate 6 and at that 'end of the member fromwhich the tongue projects is cut away or recessed, as at 18, to form aseat for the reception of the normally inner end of the extension 7 whenthe parts are assembled.

In practice when the members or plates 5 are applied for connecting therail-sections at the joint the transverse extension or coupling memberof one section extends wholly across the adjacent end of the othersection and is engaged by the coupling member or tongue 10 upon thelatter, it being apparent that the tongues 10 are entered into therecesses or seats 8 by a relative longitudinal movement of the members 5and that relative vertical movement of the latter is obviated, owing tothe interlocking engagement of the beveled edges 9 and 11 and theentrance of the inner end of the extensions 7 into the seats or recesses13. Furthermore, it will be observed that owing to the wedge-shapedconformation of the tongues 10 and the recesses 8 a wedging action willbe effected which causes firm interlocking engagement of the edges 9 and11 and that owing to the members 5 fitting upon and inclosing thebase-flange 4 and the upper edges of the fish-plates bearing beneath theoverhanging portion of the rail-head 2 relative vertical movement of themeeting ends of the rail-sections is prevented and pounding of the railends obviated. It may be mentioned that when the spikes are entered intothe recesses 12 for securing the plates to the ties the said spikes willperform the further function of securing the members against accidentalmovement relative one to the other.

'From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple inexpensivedevice admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view, itbeing understood that minor changes in the details herein set forth maybe resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new is- 1. Afish-plate having a base-plate provided at one end with a transverseextension having aseat or recess provided with an undercut Wall, and alongitudinal extension carried by the other end of the base-plate anddesigned to enter and fit the seat, said longitudinal extension beingprojected beyond the terminal of the fish-plate and having a bevelededge to conform to the undercut Wall of the recess.

2. In a rail-joint, a pair of cooperating fishplates having baseportions adapted to lie beneath a rail-base, said base-plates eachhaving at oneend a transverse extension of alength to extend Whollyacross the adjacent end of the companion section and provided With aseat or recess and a longitudinal extension carried by each of thebase-plates and designed to enter and fit the seat provided in thetransverse extension of the companion plate, said longitudinalextensions being projected beyond the relatively opposite terminals ofthe fish-plates.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE SHECKLER.

Witnesses:

DANIEL MCLANE, M. ANDERSON.

